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Head-to-head · Terminal Multiplexers

Zellij vs muxel

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Zellij #1 in Terminal Multiplexers 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Zellij
muxel #3 in Terminal Multiplexers 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit muxel

Zellij leads on 1 check, muxel on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreZellij · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresZellij · 4 of 4

Zellij scores higher on our rubric for terminal multiplexers: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

On persistence scope, muxel gives you Both where Zellij offers Local. Zellij offers collaboration features; muxel doesn't.

Zellij is the better fit for feature-rich cross-platform terminal multiplexing. muxel is the better fit for cross-platform developers and coding agents.

  • Zellij fits best

    Feature-rich cross-platform terminal multiplexing

  • muxel fits best

    Cross-platform developers and coding agents

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Side by side

Feature Zellij 9.4/10 Visit ↗ muxel 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in Terminal Multiplexers #3 in Terminal Multiplexers
Best for Feature-rich cross-platform terminal multiplexing Cross-platform developers and coding agents
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Zellij 4/4 · muxel 2/4
Session synchronization ✓ ✓
Collaboration features ✓ (best) —
Custom pane layouts ✓ ✓
Plugins or extensions ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Persistence scope Local Both
Access platforms Linux, macOS, Windows terminals; browser web client Linux, macOS, Windows desktop app; remote SSH hosts
Maximum sessions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Runs across Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web
  • Combines panes, tabs, layouts, floating, and stacked panes
  • Adds plugins, session resurrection, and collaborative sharing
  • Free and open source under GPL-3.0
  • Rich panes, tabs, saved layouts, and persistent sessions
  • Built-in Git worktrees, editor, file browser, and agent tracking
Cons
  • Session resurrection is local rather than a hosted persistence layer
  • Browser access requires an optional self-hosted web client
  • Does not include AI features
  • No collaboration features
  • GPL-3.0 terms may not suit every commercial use
  • Focused on developers managing multiple coding sessions
Our verdict

Zellij is a free, open-source terminal workspace for developers, operations-focused users, and people who work primarily in terminals. Its core multiplexing features include panes, tabs, floating and stacked panes, configurable keybindings…

Read the review →

muxel is a native desktop terminal multiplexer for developers running multiple coding agents and shells at once. It creates tiled and tabbed workspaces on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with resizable horizontal and vertical panes,…

Read the review →
  1. ZellijTerminal Multiplexers 9.4Free plan
  2. muxelTerminal Multiplexers 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Zellij — where it wins

    • Runs across Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web
    • Combines panes, tabs, layouts, floating, and stacked panes
    • Adds plugins, session resurrection, and collaborative sharing

    Where it doesn't

    • Session resurrection is local rather than a hosted persistence layer
    • Browser access requires an optional self-hosted web client
    • Does not include AI features

  • muxel — where it wins

    • Free and open source under GPL-3.0
    • Rich panes, tabs, saved layouts, and persistent sessions
    • Built-in Git worktrees, editor, file browser, and agent tracking

    Where it doesn't

    • No collaboration features
    • GPL-3.0 terms may not suit every commercial use
    • Focused on developers managing multiple coding sessions
  • Zellij9.4/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source multiplexer with layouts, plugins, persistence, and collaboration.

    Visit ZellijFull verdict →
  • muxel9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source workspace for managing multiple local and remote coding sessions.

    Visit muxelFull verdict →

More comparisons

All terminal multiplexers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update